Our doctor uses electo-acupuncture to break up trigger points. Can I bill this under the TPI code 20552-20553 to Medicare or others.
NO. Acupuncture is not a covered service for Medicare, even if provided for the treatment of an established trigger point. Use of acupuncture needles and/or the passage of electrical current through these needles is not covered regardless of who is doing it. For your major medical carriers, acupuncture with electrical stimulation is a stand-alone service billed under 97813-97814 based on the “time component” of 15 minute increments. The actual “focus” of the procedure does NOT affect the billing code.